Kentucky Basketball: Impact of Ashton Hagans’ return to Wildcats for 2019-20
By Alex Weber
What does “Sophomore Ashton” Look Like?
Ashton’s freshman campaign was parabolic. He was practically a net-nothing on the hardwood for the first few weeks of the season and found himself 4th on the backcourt depth chart. Once December his, Hagans upped his game. His disarming of hot hand Francis Alonso during the UNC-Greensboro game showcased for the first time Hagans’ hounding defensive chops.
From there, his role increased (helped by Quade Green’s transfer) and his level of play sky-rocketed. From the win over North Carolina (where he tied the Kentucky single-game record for steals) through much of January, Ashton Hagans was the best player on the team. Offensively, he played with confidence and evoked the slightest memories of John Wall.
As the months in 2019 drug on, Ashton reverted to his tentative offensive behavior and lost his edge on defense. And once the calendar flipped to March, Hagans’ simply couldn’t rediscover his previous form. The turnover-prone Hagans was a mess on offense throughout the tournament, and his performance against Auburn in the Elite Eight left fans with a sour taste. Because of his declined play near the end of the year, a return was necessary for Ashton.
In 2020, I expect Hagans’ to take a sizeable leap in play and more importantly, consistency. Ashton’s defense is his calling card, and I’m certain he’ll rekindle the fire he lit Coby White up with. The room for improvement is vast on offense, though; and the fixes are plenty accomplishable. Here’s the itinerary of improvements:
- Reduce turnovers
- Higher the release on his jumper
- Hit 34% or better from three
- Play with consistent effort and confidence
Way-too-early 2019-20 SEC power rankings. dark. Next
If Hagans can check those boxes, he will be one of the premier point guards in the SEC. He thrives off the dribble when he knows he can beat his man, and hopefully that confidence sustains all season long. We’ve seen Ashton at his peak, and it’s a marvelous sight for Kentucky die-hards. I’ve seen his floor. Now, I’m excited to witness his ceiling, because surely he’ll reach it.